Reports of taxi fare overcharge for foreigners top 6,000 in 5 years: lawmaker

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SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- The number of complaints submitted by foreigners on alleged taxi fare overcharges in Seoul over the past five years came to more than 6,000, but corrective measures have been taken on only about 3 percent of them, a lawmaker said Sunday.

The number of such reports submitted between 2021 and August this year totaled 6,481, Rep. Mo Gyeong-jong of the ruling Democratic Party said, citing Seoul city government data.

Of the total, administrative measures were taken on only 204 cases, or 3.1 percent. Of those, drivers in only 28 cases had their licenses suspended or canceled, while those involved in the remaining 176 cases were given mere warnings.

This undated file photo shows people waiting for taxis at Seoul Station in central Seoul. (Yonhap)

Over 67 percent, or 4,368, of all reported cases were closed internally due to difficulties in verifying an overcharge and voluntary withdrawal of complaints, according to the data.

In 2013, the city government revised a policy on taxi fare overcharge complaints, allowing foreigners to apply to receive 500,000 won (US$374) in compensation should their report result in an administrative measure.

The data showed there has been no case in which the compensation was actually paid out.

Rep. Mo pointed out that the policy has rarely been used due to the lack of public awareness, as well as the difficult process, especially for short-term visitors, to apply for the compensation.

"Procedural measures that can both protect those who file a report and a majority of the taxi drivers who diligently work should be introduced," he said.

This Oct. 5, 2025, file photo shows tourists visiting Myeongdong in central Seoul. (Yonhap)

mlee@yna.co.kr (END)

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Reports of taxi fare overcharge for foreigners top 6,000 in 5 years: lawmaker

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首尔，10 月 18 日（韩联社）——一位国会议员周日表示，过去五年里，外国人就首尔出租车车费被多收一事提出的投诉数量超过 6000 起，但只有约 3% 的投诉得到了纠正措施。

执政党共同民主党议员毛京钟援引首尔市政府的数据称，2021 年至今年 8 月期间，此类报告的提交数量总计为 6481 份。

在所有案件中，仅有204起（占3.1%）采取了行政措施。其中，仅有28起案件的驾驶员被吊销或注销驾照，其余176起案件的涉事驾驶员仅受到警告处分。

这张未注明日期的资料照片显示，人们在首尔市中心的首尔站等候出租车。（韩联社）

数据显示，在所有报告的案件中，超过 67%（即 4,368 起）的案件因难以核实多收费情况以及当事人自愿撤回投诉而内部结案。

2013 年，市政府修改了出租车车费超额收费投诉政策，允许外国人申请获得 50 万韩元（374 美元）的赔偿，前提是他们的举报导致采取行政措施。

数据显示，目前还没有一起赔偿金实际支付的案例。

莫议员指出，由于公众缺乏意识，以及申请补偿的过程困难（特别是对于短期访客而言），这项政策很少被使用。

他说：“应该出台一些程序性措施，既能保护举报人，又能保护大多数勤恳工作的出租车司机。”

这张摄于2025年10月5日的资料照片显示，游客正在首尔市中心的明洞游览。（韩联社）

mlee@yna.co.kr (完)

截至8月，赴首尔的外国游客数量增长了22%。

外国人拖欠的健康保险费总额达375亿韩元。

韩国文化热潮推动在韩留学生人数首次突破50万。

韩国预计到2025年将吸引超过200万外国医疗游客。

议员称，五年内外国人遭出租车司机多收车费的案件超过6000起。